Novel Antiferroelectric Liquid Crystals Derived from Trifluoromethylated Pyranoses

Abstract A new series of liquid crystals possessing trifluoromethylated pyranoses was synthesized and their mesomorphic properties were investigated. Electro-optical studies showed that some of these compounds exhibited an antiferroelectric chiral smectic C (SmCA*) phase. Further, it was found that the appearance of the SmCA* phase was strongly dependent on the conformation of the chiral part; cisand transconfigurations of the pyranose ring. Relationship between molecular structures and a propensity to the formation of the SmCA* phase was discussed.